Truss



Nov. 30 1926.

WITNESSES 1,608,927 J. CONFORT! ET AL TRUSS I Filed Oct. 9, 1924 NVENTORS Z6 WMQ 014; 2 'ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

E D S T ATESI JOSEPH CONFORTI AND GREGORIO NICOLAZZO, or nsnosnn, Wisconsin.

TRUSS.

Application filed October 9, 19241.

The invention relates to trusses and has for an object the provision of a truss in which the pad may be readily manipulated by the wearer to exert an equable and continuous pressure on the affected parts at the different positions which the parts assume during the day.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truss-having a pad-adjusting means which may be manipulated by the wearer for effecting. lateral adjustment of the pad when required, so as to obviate the necessity for more or less frequent attention by others than the wearer.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a truss embodying the invention;

F ig. 2 is a detail front view of the pad and its support;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the same; and

Fig. i is a detail sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig.

In these drawings, 10 indicates a belt of usual construction adapted to be secured about the waist of the wearer, and 11 a spring metal pad support which is secured to the belt at one side and is provided in front with. a downwardly directed projection 12, terminating at a short distance from the affected parts. The projection 12 carries an outstanding ear 13 at its lower end, and the pad support is encased in leather or canvas in the usual manner.

A pad 14 is of the usual type carrying a metal back 15, which, however, is provided with a diametrically extending band of transverse parallel corrugations 16. A pair of rails 17 are secured to the back by rivets 18 or other suitable fastening means and extend on each side of the band of corrugations to form a channel for receiving an arm 19 provided with corrugations 20 adapted to register with those in the back 15. The upper end of the arm carries an ear 21 in which a shaft 22 is non-rotatably secured, as by providing the shaft with a square cross section 22 fitting in a corre sponding opening in the ear. A ratchet wheel 23 is non-rotatably mounted on the squared portion of the shaft adjacent one side of the ear 21, and the shaft is provided with a cylindrical part 24 rotatably mounted in the ear 18 on the pad support, the ratchet wheel being disposed between the ears. Ratchet teeth may obviously be cut in the ear 21 instead of providing a separate ratchet wheel, but the latter is preferred for facility in manufacture. A pawl 25, preferably of spring metal, secured to the pad support 11, as by rivets 26, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel to permit a rela' tively free inward swinging movement of the pad, but preventsits outward movement. and is provided with a button 27, by which it may be occasionally drawn forward out of engagement. with the ratchet wheel to permit outward 18-ttl]USl3lYl8Ilt of the pad.

It is obvious that instead of the above desecribed ratchet connection, the pawl may be secured to the arm 19 while the ratchet wheel is relatively immovable on the pad support.

The arm 19 is held retained on the pad in the channel formed by the rails 17 by a pair of locking levers 28 holding the copperating corrugations in engagen'ient to prevent relative movement of the arm and pad. The levers 28 carry trunnions 29 near one end which are journalled in openings in ears 31 projecting from the rails. The short end of each lever adjacent the trunnions forms a heel 32 which is adapted to engage the arm 19 and pass over center to a locking positioin while the other end of the ever is curved to afford a finger hold and engages the arm to determine the locking position of the heel 32. The trunnions 29 are preferably square with one corner rounded to improve the operation of the lever.

The pad is provided with the usual understrap 33 and may have a laterally t isposed strap 34 to assist in holding it in position.

The pad support 11 is of spring metal as usual. to urge the pad inwardly, but the pad is capable of relative angular movement thereto by reason of the pivotal connection between them, outward movement of the pad being normally prevented by the pawl 25 engaging the ratchet wheel 23.

The pad is set to obtain the desired gentle pressure but as the abdomen relaxes from time to time during the day the pressure is accordingly released. The pressure may then be restored by urging the pad inwardly by the hand sufficiently to permit the pawl 25 to engage the following tooth on the ratchet wheel. This manipulation may be performed inconspiouously whenever it becomes necessary and without loosening or removing the clothing.

When the abdomen again assumes a forward position, as would be the case after meals, the pressure of the pad would become excessive and uncomfortable and may be relieved by pulling the pawl 25 forward by its button 27, which permits the pad to swing outwardly to a new position where it will be held when the pawl is returned into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel. This manipulation may also be inconspicuously performed, as the button may be grasped through the clothing.

The device thus obviates the faults of the truss of usual construction, in which the pad must be placed under sufficient pressure to hold it properly against the affected parts when the abdomen is relaxed and thereby causes excessive pressure at other times.

The pad may be readily adjusted longitudinally along the arm 19 after swinging the locking levers 28 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. This manipulation may be performed by the wearer since no tools are needed which would require the assistance of another person.

' What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a truss, the combination, with a yielding support adapted to be secured at the waist of a wearer, of a pad secured to said support and relatively angularly movable with respect thereto, means for permitting said pad to be freely moved inwardly to operative position relative to said support, means for normally preventing outward movement of the pad relative to said support, and being under the control of the wearer for momentarily releasing said pad to permit its outward re-adjustment, and pivotally mounted means for permitting a lateral ad justment of said pad with respect to said support in a plane normal to the plane of angular movement.

2. In a truss, the combination, with a yielding support adapted to be secured at the waist of a wearer and having a pad-engaging extension, of a pad having guide members to receive said extension in adjustable relation, and swingable locking levers pivotally mounted on the pad and adapted'to retain 1, cos, 927

said extension in engagement with said pad, said pad and extension having interlocking parts to prevent relative movement when held in engagement by said locking levers.

3. In a truss, the combination, with a yielding support adapted to be secured at the waist of a wearer, and having a pad-engaging portion, of a pad having guide surfaces receiving said support in adjustable relation, and pivotally mounted locking means retaining said support in engagement with said pad, said pad and support having interlitting parts preventing relative movement when held engaged by said locking means.

it. In a truss, the combination, with a yielding support adapted to be secured at the waist of a wearer and having an anterior downwardly extending projection, of an arm pivotally mounted at the lower end of said projection, a pad secured to said arm, a ratchet member secured to said arm at its pivotal connection, a spring pawl secured to the projection of said pad support and co-operating with said ratchet member to prevent the outward movement of said pad but permitting free inward movement of said pad, said pawl including a finger hold and being momentarily releasable from said ratchet member to permit an outward readjustment of said pad.

5. In a truss, the combination, with a yielding support adapted to be secured to the waist of a wearer and having a pad-em gaging extension, or a pad having guide members to receive said extension between them in longitudinal adjustable relation. swingable locking levers pivotally mounted on said pad adjacent said extension and each having a finger-hold portion and an angular cam heel adapted to engage said extension to retain it in enga ement with saidpad, said heel being movable along said extension past a normal plane through the lever axis to a locking position determined by the engagement with said finger-hold portion with said extension, and said pad and extension having interlocking parts to prevent relative movement when thus held in engagement by the locking levers. V

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JOSEPH CONFORTI.

GREGORIO NICOLAZZO. 

